Varro

Taking full advantage of its prime corner property at Venice and Abbot Kinney, this Argentinian wine bar has a massive, shaded front patio and breezy, light-filled interior that feels designed solely with first dates in mind. That said, if we’re flying solo or meeting a friend for a casual midweek dinner, you’ll find us sitting right at the bar. Here is where you can chat up the somm until you find the exact right wine you’re in the mood for (their list includes both South and North American wines, as well as European) and then stare longingly into the open hearth filled with sizzling meats and vegetables. As far as food goes, we’ve yet to try anything here we dislike, but the aubergine escabeche, a marinated eggplant dish topped with stracciatella cheese and raisins, is a standout.